Running With James

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a runner who once qualified for the Boston Marathon decides she’s not done chasing bigger goals? This week on Running With James, we’re sitting down with special guest Alaina Laine to talk about her journey from competitive team sports and marathon running to the world of HYROX Pro competition. Alaina’s athletic resume is impressive: two Boston Marathon appearanc...

Send us Fan Mail Every runner has aches, pains, tight muscles, and those little nagging sensations that make you wonder: Should I keep running, modify my workout, or take a few days off? But how do you know the difference between normal training discomfort and an actual injury? This week on Running with James, we’re breaking down one of the most common questions runners face: When should you push...

Send us Fan Mail Are we actually becoming better runners, or are we just buying the lifestyle? From carbon-plated shoes and expensive GPS watches to trendy running gear and the latest gadgets, the running industry has plenty to sell us. But do these things really make us better athletes, or do they just make us feel like we’re making progress? In this episode of Running with James , we get real ab...

Send us Fan Mail Why do we really run? Is it for the love of the sport, the pursuit of a PR, the recognition, or the validation that comes with posting our miles for everyone to see? In this episode of Running with James , we get real about the pressure to run faster, chase numbers, compare ourselves to others, and prove something through our performance. From Strava kudos and Garmin stats to race...

Send us Fan Mail Running is exploding. Marathons are selling out. HYROX is filling events faster than ever. Run clubs are popping up everywhere. Google searches for “how to start running” and “run club” are hitting all-time highs. Millions of people are suddenly choosing to run, race, lift, compete and train together. But why? Is this really about getting faster and getting in better shape? Or are...

Send us Fan Mail You trained for the race. You put in the miles. You did the workouts. But do you actually have a race plan? A great race doesn’t just happen because you’re fit enough to finish. How you pace yourself, fuel, hydrate, manage effort, handle the tough moments, and respond when things don’t go according to plan can make or break your race. In this episode of Running with James , we’re...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you put James, Lauren, and Rocky in the hot seat and ask the questions they normally wouldn’t answer? This episode of Running With James is a little different. No training plan. No structured interview. Just three coaches answering questions about training, racing, fitness, personal life, pet peeves, embarrassing moments, unpopular opinions, and everything in bet...

Send us Fan Mail YOU DON’T NEED TO RUN MORE TO GET FASTER. Or do you? One of the most common pieces of advice runners hear is simple: if you want to get faster, run more. But is more mileage actually the answer? In this episode of Running with James , we challenge the idea that more running automatically leads to more speed. We break down frequency, volume, intensity, recovery, and the 80/20 appro...

Send us Fan Mail Who really belongs in HYROX? This week, we’re going straight into one of the more controversial conversations in the sport: Do you actually need to be prepared to do HYROX? What about the people who sign up just for fun? The athletes who show up underprepared? The people who aren’t chasing a podium, a qualifying time, or a personal best? Does HYROX belong only to serious competito...

Send us Fan Mail Think getting faster in HYROX means you just need to run more? Think again. In this episode of Running with James , we break down the 5 key areas you need to train to become a faster, stronger, and more efficient HYROX runner . HYROX is unique because you’re not running a fresh 1K, you’re running eight of them while your legs are constantly getting beat up by the stations. That me...

Send us Fan Mail You don’t need to be better at everything in HYROX. You need to get better at the right things. In this episode of Running with James , we break down the 5 HYROX stations that can make or break your race —and why simply training harder isn’t always the answer. After our recent BC Fitness Movement Performance Clinic with Coach Tommy, we looked at athletes through a different lens:...

Send us Fan Mail You trained for it. You put in the miles. You did the workouts. You felt ready. Then race day comes… and somewhere along the way, you hit the wall. Your pace falls apart. Your heart rate climbs. Your legs feel like bricks. Suddenly the finish line feels a whole lot farther away than it did an hour ago. But why does this happen? In this episode of Running with James , we break down...

Send us Fan Mail What if failure isn’t something you should avoid? What if it’s actually part of the process? In this episode of Running with James , we’re flipping the script on failure. As athletes, we’re constantly chasing PRs, faster paces, heavier weights, podiums, and better performances—but if you’re never failing, are you really pushing yourself far enough to grow? We talk about what failu...

Send us Fan Mail THE HEAT IS ON! Summer running can make you question everything—your pace is slower, your heart rate is higher, and every mile feels harder. But what if that struggle is actually making you a better runner? This week on Running with James , we’re breaking down the science of running in the heat and why heat training can become one of your biggest performance advantages. We’ll talk...

Send us Fan Mail Everyone is searching for the next breakthrough workout, recovery gadget, or supplement that promises faster results. But what if the biggest gains don’t come from the latest trend? In this episode of Training Truths , Coach James cuts through the noise and explains why consistency, not hacks, is the real key to becoming a stronger runner, HYROX athlete, or everyday fitness enthus...

Send us Fan Mail Nutrition has never been more confusing. One day carbs are the enemy. The next day they’re essential. Every week there’s a new diet, a new supplement, or a new “secret” to losing weight and improving performance. In this episode of the Training Truths series, we’re cutting through the noise and getting back to what actually works. We discuss: Why nutrition has become so complicate...

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many people start strong but struggle to stay consistent? In this episode of Training Truths , Coach James dives into one of the biggest myths in fitness: the idea that you need motivation to succeed. The truth? Motivation comes and goes. Lasting results are built on systems, habits, and the discipline to keep showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Whether your goa...

Send us Fan Mail What if the hardest part of your fitness journey wasn’t the training—but the reactions of the people around you? In the first episode of our new Training Truths series, Coach James sits down with Melanie to share her remarkable journey of losing more than 100 pounds and discovering a passion for running that transformed her life. Along the way, she expected challenges like early m...

Send us Fan Mail HYROX is evolving, and so should your training. This week on the Running with James Podcast , Coach Tommy joins the show as we break down the latest HYROX rule changes, what they mean for athletes, and how they’ll impact both training and race day. We also tackle one of the biggest challenges in the sport today: with so much advice online, how do you know who to trust? From social...

Send us Fan Mail Success isn’t built in a single workout, one race, or even one season—it’s built through consistency, patience, and trusting the work when the results aren’t immediately visible. In Week 6 of The Performance Lab , we’re talking about one of the hardest lessons every athlete has to learn: trusting the process . Whether you’re training for a marathon, preparing for HYROX, chasing a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—showing up, putting in the work, staying consistent—but somehow you’re not getting any better? You’re not alone. In Week 5 of The Performance Lab, we tackle one of the most frustrating challenges athletes face: the plateau. We break down the hidden reasons runners, HYROX athletes, and fitness enthusiasts stop progressing, e...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Running with James… Coach Carlos is BACK! We dive into the current state of HYROX and there’s a lot to unpack: 🔥 The controversy surrounding HYROX NYC  🎟️ Why getting a race ticket feels harder than ever  🌎 What to expect as the World Championships approach  📈 Is HYROX growing too fast, or is this just the next phase of the sport? And of course, Don Carlito himself...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Running with James Podcast, we’re joined by new friend Christian Rhodes —ultra runner, Ironman finisher, owner of Rhodes Run Lab , and a guy whose mission goes far beyond selling running shoes. Christian shares the story behind Rhodes Run Lab, how he got started in endurance sports, and the experiences that shaped his personal motto: “Bigger Than Me.” We dive into...

Send us Fan Mail With  Special Guest Co-Host Leah Wyatt & Coach Lauren Episode Description In the world of running, HYROX, and endurance sports, we spend a lot of time talking about training plans, workouts, nutrition, recovery, and race day strategies. But what about the people who help make it all possible? This week on The Performance Lab, James is joined by Coach Lauren and special guest c...

Send us Fan Mail Everybody loves the highlight reel: PRs, podiums, and race photos. But what actually builds great athletes? Pressure. Adversity. Failure. Fatigue. The moments when things don’t go according to plan. In Week 3 of The Performance Lab, James is joined by Rocky and Coach Lauren to break down the mental side of performance and why adversity often becomes the greatest catalyst for growt...